Hooking an entire generation and taking over the summer of 2024, ‘the brat summer’ was a cultural phenomenon influenced by Charli XCX album ‘brat’. A lime-green covered, hyper pop concoction leading to the biggest dance anthems in recent memory, it would make sense for Charli to commemorate this moment in her career with a piece of film, as many artists do. However, The Moment isn’t your usual concert film or even behind-the-scenes documentary – it’s a mockumentary blending feature filmmaking with all too real themes. Steeped in lime green, strobe lights and flashing images, The Moment is a loud, chaotic and occasionally emotional film that puts the life of a popstar front and centre – it’s an extremely engaging viewing that provides something wholly unique.
The Moment has a really solid cast, some playing themselves and some not, that deliver the material well. Of course, our leading popstar Charli XCX is unexpectedly convincing at playing herself, leading you to wonder how true to life the scenarios she faces are. Whether she’s dancing on stage or having an emotional, angry outburst en route to her next event, her “performance” is incredibly realistic. Also impressing is Jamie Demetriou (Barbie) as Tim, a manager-esque figure in Charli’s whirlwind life that is tasked with keeping everybody happy – he’s great at emitting the stress you’d expect. Perhaps the biggest surprise within the cast is Alexander Skarsgard (The Northman) as Johannes, a film director penned to oversee the creative process of Charli’s concert film, much to the distaste of her creative director and their overall vision. His character is largely a satirical, humorous vessel for the common, generic concert films we see, and it works well. The likes of Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott and Julia Fox make guest appearances as themselves, with Patricia Arquette (Pulp Fiction), Hailey Benton Gates (Challengers) and Kate Berlin (Don’t Worry Darling) filling out the fictional cast. They all understood the assignment.
The Moment: A Mockumentary That Goes Far Deeper Than Your Average Concert Film
A lot of attention is paid to ensuring that audibly and visually, The Moment is a steady continuation of the brat vibe and tone. From the opening credits, viewers are informed that the experience will be as Charli-esque as you can imagine, despite its fictitious approach. Flashing lights, neon, loud club music, strobe effects, parties, drinking and drug use fill out the run-time in what seems a very fitting ode to her genre of music. A line in the film informs us that the concert they’re creating needs to mimic that of a nightclub, and that’s exactly what The Moment feels like, also. Rarely slowing down to let the audience or characters breathe, it plays out like an anxiety attack waiting to happen, the stress and busy schedule can be felt effervescing off of every character. From concert rehearsals to in-car Zoom calls, launch parties to Vogue interviews, the life of a popstar has never looked so chaotic. Fans of Charli, and brat in particular, are going to have an absolute blast with the overall tone and feeling of the movie. It’s a party in itself.
The Moment isn’t just setting out to entertain us though, it’s actually a deep story that delves into our main characters psyche. Unafraid to show the less glamorous, more stressful side of stardom, it’s hard not to leave the theater feeling sorry for singers with this level of fame. Even though brat is still in full swing when this movie is set, her label and every other voice in her life is already questioning what comes next. Will brat be extended, or is it time for something new? Brands from all over the globe want to work with Charli to capitalize on her lime green success, giving her minimal space to have her own thoughts or even consider being creative. Working closely with her creative director to make the tour they envision seems like a waste of time when director Johannes comes in and wants to change it all. Eyes always watching and ears always listening, Charli is being pushed and pulled in a million different directions, giving an honest depiction of the lack of agency our most shining stars really have. It’s incredibly thought-provoking.
Feeling like a swan song for the truly iconic brat era, The Moment combines an upbeat pop foreground with an intense, anxiety-inducing background, giving a raw and brutal look at life in the limelight. It won’t do anything to win over new fans, as it expects you to already have a solid understanding of the brat era whilst not really showcasing much of her music that made this era so prominent. However, what it does do is showcase strong performances, complex and interesting themes and a great companion piece to her signature album. Charli XCX is kind of ruling the world right now, and The Moment shows this isn’t something we should worry about.
Grade: B
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The Moment
A rising pop sensation navigates fame and industry pressures while preparing for her arena tour debut, revealing the transformation of underground culture into mainstream success.
